Manometer



Dec. 15, 1953 v J. 5. DWYER MANOMETER Filed July 6, 1951 IN V EN TOR. MM WNW Patented Dec. 15, 1953 MANOMETER James G. Dwyer, Deerfield, 111.,assignor to F. W. Dwyer Mfg. 00., a corporation of Illinois ApplicationJuly 6, 1951, Serial No. 235,483

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to U-tube manometers, and moreparticularly to those that are used by engineers and servicemen intesting various kinds of equipment. Obviously, however, the manometer isnot limited to any particular use.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a U-tube manometerthat can be made inexpensively and is conveniently portable both tofacilitate use and shipment. It is also desirable that the manometer beunbreakable, and the manometer of this invention is of that type.

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as thedisclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of amanometer made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, showing particularlythe U-tube connection at the bottom of the manometer arms; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing how stoppers may be used toclose the upper ends of the manometer, whereupon the manometer may berolled into compact form.

It should be understood that the choice of a preferred form of theinvention for illustration and description is for the purpose ofcomplying with Section 4888 of the Revised Statutes and should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the appended claims except as may berequired by the prior art.

There are many instances where U-tube manometers are used fordetermining pressures and pressure differentials, and the use ofmanometers for relating unknown pressures to atmospheric pressures iswell-known. The present invention, therefore, is directed moreparticularly to the construction of a manometer and to the materials ofwhich it is made.

Most manometers are made of glass, which not only presents a problem ofbreakability, but also requires large shipping or carrying cases toprotect them from breakage in being carried about. The manometer of thisinvention is not only un-- breakable, but may be rolled into compactform for convenient portability and may be shipped in small containerswith resultant saving in cost of shipment.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the manometer comprisesarms I and II connected at the bottom by a U-tube or cross tube l2 andheld in proper spaced relation by a web l3 die-cut to provide openingsI4 adapted to receive a flexible scale I5.

The body of the manometer, which includes the arms I ll and H and theweb I3, is a flexible transparent material, preferably a vinyl resin,and may be extruded in long lengths. In other words, it is preferredaccording to this invention to form the arms and web of the manometerfrom a single extruded member having a cross-sectional shape shown inFig. 2, whereby it is only necessary to cut the extruded material to thedesired length and die cut the openings I4, hanging aperture I6, and endrecesses I! in order to provide the completely fabricated manometer, i.e., complete except for the cross tube l2 and scale IS.

The U-tube or cross tube I 2 is preferably of, relatively rigid,transparent plastic material such as a cellulose acetate butyrate,although of course it could be of glass or other like material ifdesired. The upper ends of the U-tube are preferably beveled at I8 tofacilitate the insertion into the lower ends of the arms or tubes Illand II, and annular notches l9 aid in sealing the flexible arms Ill andI I to the cross tube I2. The outer diameter of the cross tube I2 ispreferably slightly larger than the internal diameter of the arms I0 andI I to insure a good seal.

The scale I5 is preferably made of flexibly plastic material such ascelluloid or the like, is threaded through openings Id and has printedupon it the usual graduation marks so that dirferences in level of wateror other liquid 20 in the manometer may be read and recorded. If wateris used, it preferably contains a dye to facilitate reading. The scaleI5 may be adjusted up and down through the openings I4 to adjust thezero mark to any desired position.

It will be understood that in use one arm of the manometer will besuitably connected to the pipe 2| or other area the pressure of which(either subatmospheric or superatmospheric) is desired to be read.Assuming that this pressure is to be related to atmospheric pressure,the upper end of the tube In is left open to atmosphere.

Obviously, if differential pressures are to be read on the manometer,the upper end of the arm or tube I0 is connected to one of the pressureareas, whereupon the differential pressures may be read on the manometerscale I5.

Where larger pressures are involved, mercury or some other heavierliquid may be substituted for water to give the manometer greater rangeof reading.

When the manometer is not in use, the upper ends of the tubes Ill and IImay be closed by stoppers such as shown at 22 (Fig. 4) and the manometermay then be rolled into compact form for convenient carrying.

Throughout this specification, the term pressure has been used in thesense of absolute pressure rather than in relation to atmosphericpressure.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the opportunity tomodify the construction of the manometer within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible, portable manometer comprising parallel tubular arms oftransparent flexible material connected intermediate their ends by a webalso of flexible material, and a cross tube connecting the bottom of thearms.

2. A flexible, portable manometer comprising parallel tubular arms oftransparent flexible material connected intermediate their ends by a webalso of flexible material, said arms and web being integrally formed,and a cross tube con necting the bottom of the arms.

3. A flexible, portable manometer comprising parallel tubular arms oftransparent flexible material connected intermediate their ends by a webalso of flexible material, a cross tube connecting the bottom of thearms, said arms and web being integrally formed, a plurality of openingsalong the web, and a flexible scale threaded through said openings.

4. A flexible, portable manometer having a body portion of flexibletransparent material comprising two parallel tubular arms connected by aweb, and a cross tube connecting the lower ends of said arms, said bodyportion material being a vinyl resin.

JAMES G. DWYER.

No references cited.

